(07-21-2016, 02:55 AM)Jhonn Wrote: ...because it's very old at this point?

So is the Nvidia Shield Tablet, which with the same GPU unit is currently rocking vulkan support even on marshmallow. Google has NEVER updated the drivers for the nexus 9, a feat that has basically never happened before with a nexus. This is clearly a case of Google neglecting the tablet from the beginning. The nexus 6 and nexus player, which both released at the same time as the nexus 9, are receiving vulkan support with android N. This is not an issue of age. It's purely google's neglect.

Google's Update policy is supporting a device for at least 18 months. Nexus 9 was released in 2014, so, its "update warranty" expired already (having official Android N on it is jut a freebie at this point). Also, NVIDIA Shield Tablet != Nexus 9. Yes, they use the same SoC but Nexus 9 isn't produced anymore. Did NVIDIA provide Vulkan drivers? Yes, they did, Shield Tablet have them as you mentioned. Does Google/HTC has any obligation of pushing updated drivers/software to a device that's basically EOL at this point? No, they don't.

TL;DR Nexus 9 owners should stop whining, just keep an eye on XDA Developers if Vulkan support really matters to you, the folks there will eventually work around it. Just don't expect official support to an EOL device...

(07-21-2016, 04:51 AM)Jhonn Wrote: Google's Update policy is supporting a device for at least 18 months. Nexus 9 was released in 2014, so, its "update warranty" expired already (having official Android N on it is jut a freebie at this point). Also, NVIDIA Shield Tablet != Nexus 9. Yes, they use the same SoC but Nexus 9 isn't produced anymore. Did NVIDIA provide Vulkan drivers? Yes, they did, Shield Tablet have them as you mentioned. Does Google/HTC has any obligation of pushing updated drivers/software to a device that's basically EOL at this point? No, they don't.

TL;DR Nexus 9 owners should stop whining, just keep an eye on XDA Developers if Vulkan support really matters to you, the folks there will eventually work around it. Just don't expect official support to an EOL device...